The board of trustees at Arnolfini—an arts organization in Bristol, UK—has appointed Claire Doherty as the new director of the space following the departure of Kate Brindley last December.

Doherty is currently the director of Situations, which she founded at the University of the West of England in 2002. It became an independent organization in 2012 and has been part of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio since 2015. Among the initiatives produced by Situations is Theaster Gates’s Sanctum, 2015, the artist’s first public art project in the UK. Commenting on the appointment, Anna Southall, chair of the Arnolfini board, said, “Following an international search, trustees are thrilled to have appointed Claire, whose work developing Situations we have long admired. Claire is an inspiring leader, both visionary and entrepreneurial, and has excited us with her ideas for a vibrant future for Arnolfini.”

In 2016, Claire was appointed MBE for services to the arts in the southwest of England. Doherty commented on her new role, saying, “I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to lead Arnolfini’s next chapter in Bristol—a city which is truly a crucible of brave, new ideas and creative talent. Across the UK, this is a moment of profound change for our cultural infrastructure as we face the economic and societal challenges ahead. We are already seeing new models of collaboration, leadership and openness emerge and brave new types of arts organization which are responding to the interests and needs of artists and audiences in more relevant ways. I’m excited about the prospect of Arnolfini playing a major part in these developments, drawing on its considerable history, as we go forward with an emboldened, new vision.”